S5-denying Approach to Relativized Metaphysical Modality

Abstract This paper is organised as follows: first, I present Salmon’s theory of modality (which I call ‘S5-denying approach to relativized metaphysical modality’) and compare it with the standard interpretation of modality: ‘the nonrelativized S5-friendly interpretation of metaphysical modality’. Second, I explain Murray and Wilson’s ‘two-dimensional S5-friendly interpretation of relativized metaphysical modality’. In the third and last part, I put forward a few arguments against Murray and Wilson’s attempt to provide an essentialist S5-friendly theory for modality. In general, this paper argues that if one wants to hold an essentialist theory for relativized (metaphysical) modality, then his best option in the market right now is to stick with Salmon’s proposal, which better represents a genuine essentialist interpretation of relativized metaphysical modality.

摘要 本文结构安排如下：首先，我将阐述萨尔蒙（Salmon）的模态（modality）理论——我将其命名为「拒斥S5的相对化形而上学模态（relativized metaphysical modality）进路」——并将其与标准模态解释，即「非相对化且支持S5的形而上学模态解释（nonrelativized S5-friendly interpretation of metaphysical modality）」进行对比。其次，我将阐释默里与威尔逊（Murray and Wilson）提出的「支持S5的二维相对化形而上学模态解释（two-dimensional S5-friendly interpretation of relativized metaphysical modality）」。在第三部分即最后一部分中，我将提出若干反驳论据，以驳斥默里与威尔逊试图为模态构建本质主义且支持S5的理论（essentialist S5-friendly theory）这一尝试。总体而言，本文主张：若研究者希望为相对化（形而上学）模态构建本质主义理论，那么当下学界的最优选择便是采纳萨尔蒙的方案，该方案更能体现对相对化形而上学模态的真正本质主义解读。